Assessments fueling angst

Many long-term care workers are less satisfied with their jobs these days, a new survey finds. One reason: MDS 3.0 assessments are taking longer to complete.

Job satisfaction rates for long-term care workers fell an average of 10 points between 2009 and 2011, according to the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination study. Compensation and work/life balance were among leading indicators cited.

MDS 3.0 completion time was one of the top areas for concern among workers. The most time-consuming parts of the assessment were: OBRA Comprehensive MDS only, CAAs only, Care Plan only and PPS only, according to the survey results.

The good news: Roughly two-thirds of survey respondents agreed that the MDS 3.0 tool has improved their awareness of each resident's choices and preferences in how care is provided.

Fecal transplants should be considered for patients with recurrent cases of Clostridium difficile whose symptoms cannot be addressed by antibiotics, the Infectious Diseases Society of America said in new guidelines published Thursday.

Lawmakers took a long-standing industry complaint to the Department of Health and Human Services this week, telling Secretary Alex Azar that Medicare and Medicaid favor opioid prescription over non-addictive alternatives for treating chronic pain.